Is Princeton or Penn harder to get into?

Princeton is harder to get into than Penn. Princeton's 4.5% acceptance rate is lower than Penn's 5.4%.

Which is cheaper, Princeton or Penn?

Princeton costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Princeton's average net price is $6,128 vs $28,699 at Penn.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Princeton or Penn?

Penn graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $110,066 at Princeton and $111,371 at Penn.

Princeton vs. Penn: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Princeton	Penn
Acceptance rate	4.5%	5.4%
SAT mid-50%	1500–1580	1500–1570
ACT mid-50%	34–35	34–35
Cost of attendance	$83,140	$89,028
Avg net price (after aid)	$6,128	$28,699
Undergrad enrollment	5,590	10,539
6-yr graduation rate	97.6%	96.5%
Median earnings (10yr)	$110,066	$111,371
Setting	Princeton, New Jersey	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Princeton's 4.5% acceptance rate and Penn's 5.4% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Princeton is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $22,571 per year, $90,284 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Penn is substantially larger with 10,539 undergrads vs 5,590 at Princeton. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Princeton is in Princeton, New Jersey; Penn is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Princeton is 50.4% women, 12.6% international, and 23.4% Asian-American. Penn is 55.0% women, 12.6% international, and 28.4% Asian-American.

Demographic	Princeton	Penn
Women	50.4%	55.0%
International	12.6%	12.6%
White	33.7%	27.4%
Asian	23.4%	28.4%
Hispanic	10.1%	11.3%
Black	8.7%	9.0%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Princeton vs. Penn?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Princeton if

Net price matters: Princeton costs $22,571 less per year on average
Higher 6-year graduation rate
its senior thesis requirement

Pick Penn if

Your odds are realistic at Penn (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($111,371 vs $110,066)
the One University Policy that lets undergrads take classes across Wharton

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Princeton University

4.5% accept · Princeton, New Jersey

Full profile

University of Pennsylvania

5.4% accept · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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